Hollow steel building structure



G. G. GREULICH 2,089,893

HOLLOW STEEL BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 26, 1936 2 Shee'ts--Shee'tl limwao: 67E/@QLD 6. @Bal/6H, j.

Aug. 10, 1937. G. G. GREULICH HOLLOW STEEL BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Aug.26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H, UW. fm U i M @u @L 7@ Patented Aug. 10,1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to hollow steel building structures including oneor more structural units having a continuous open horizontal spaceextending in all directions above the top of the struc- 5 tural ysteelmembers or framing.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure having unlimitedraceways over its entire area so that it is possible to lay conduits orpiping in any direction whereby an electrical outlet may be placed atpractically any point on the surface of the structural unit.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, in which:

Figure vl is a transverse section of the assembled structure;

Figure 2- is a section on line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure vr3 is a plan showing pipes or conduits connected to an outletplug;

Figure is a detailed section showing one form 2O of reeniorcement forthe bottom member;

` Figure 5 is a detailedsection showing another form of reenforcementfor the bottom member;

Figure 6 is a transverse section of another form of structural unit;

Figures 7 and 8-are detailed sections oi modifledV forms of the meansfor spacing the top and bottom members;

Figure -9 is a transverse section of still another form of structuralunit;

Figure 101s a section online X-X of Figure 9 Figure 1l is a detailedsection of the means for connecting the -units;'

Figure l2 is a sectional plan taken on line XII-XII of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a sectional elevation oi a modied form'for connecting twounits together.

In'the drawings, one form of the structural unit comprises a top member2, consisting of a metallic sheet'provided with one or more conical 40projections or cups 3 formed thereon, and a bottom member d consistingof a i'lat sheet of material. The conical projections 3 are providedwith small openings 5 in the bottom thereof to permit the top and bottommembers to be welded together. Under certain conditions, it may bedeemed desirable to reenforce the bottom member t and, if this is thecase, any desired form of reenforced ribs 6, as shown in the variousfig- 0 ures, may be formed in or welded to the bottom member t.O

The assembled unit is supported on structural beam members l! and weldedthereto, as indicated at 3, while the end portions of the adjacent upperunits are connected together by means of a cap or cover plate 9. Such aconstruction produces a continuous raceway above the structural beammembers 'l and permits an outlet plug I0 to be placed within a fewinches of practically any point on the area of the assembled 5 unit.Electrical conduits or cables I 2 are adapted to be laid between theupper and lower members forming this unit in any desired direction, asclearly shown in Figure 3. The conical projections are spaced parallelto each other in both a 10 vertical and horizontal position and, in sodoing, produces a continuous open horizontal space extending ln everydirection above the top of the structural beam members l.

In the modiication shown in Figure 6, the top 15 member 2 is identicalin construction with that shown in Figure 1 and provided with theconical projections 3 and the cap or cover plate 9 for connecting theadjacent units. The bottom plate I3 is provided with conical projectionsI4 where- 20 by the apexes of the projections, which abut each other,are capable of being welded together. In such a construction, there isproduced an increased depth of space between the upper and lowermembers.

In the modified form, shown in Figures 9 and 10, the upper member 2 isprovided with conical projections 3 and openings 5 which permit weldingof the upper section to a bottom member I5. The bottom member I5comprises a ribbed sheet having projections I6 adapted to abut and alignwith the projections 3 formed on the top member. The bottom member islikewise welded to the structural beam members 1, as shown at 8, whilethe ends of the upper members are connected 3ftogether by the cap orcover plate 9.

In Figures 7 and 8, the upper and lower members 2 and 4 each comprise asheet of flat material. Struts or posts are positioned between andWelded to the top and bottom members to main- 40 tain said members inspaced relation and form a continuous open horizontal space throughoutthe entire area of the unit. The form shown in Figure 7 comprises acylindrical member Il, while Figure 8, the spacing member comprises a 45column formed of double inverted frusta-cones Il.

In each of the foregoing constructions, when assembled and welded to thestructural beam members 1, there is a surfacing composition applied overthe top member 2 which fills the inside of the conical projections 3,serving as an anchor for the surfacing composition against movement inany direction. 5r-

Under the present construction, there is provided an all-steel floor,wall or ceiling structure having continuous hollow spaces extending overthe entire area of the structure produced by the top and bottom membersbeing separated or maintained in spaced relationship to each otherwhereby it is possible to lay conduits or piping within the horizontalspace formed by said units in any direction.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to embed the pipe or conduit in afloor ll, prior to completion of the structure or to provide a series ofunderiloor ducts through which the wires could be arranged or positionedto the various outlets. These underfioor ducts, however, wereinflexible, as once the space of the outlets were iixed, it was notpractical to place additional outlets except directly over the ducts.Another method, heretofore employed, comprised hollow steel cellularunits. Conduits or piping were inserted in only one direction. In orderto change the direction of the conduits, it was necessary to introduceexpensive transverse fittings.

However, under the present construction, the structural steel beams canrst be erected with the intermediate floor beams spaced thereon. Thehollow steel units, hereinbeore described, are laid in position andwelded to the structural 'beam members 1, and the open space between theends of the adjacent units above the beams are not covered until allwire and conduits are in piace. Under such construction, it is possibleto place an electrical outlet at any point on the at surface of theunit, or even at points on the cover plates between the units. Theseunits eliminate the necessity of planking or temporary decking and,after the conduits have been laid within the units, the surface ll isapplied to the top member and, entering the depressions formed by theconical projections 3, produces an anchorage for the surface fillagainst movement in any direction.

In the showing in Figure 11, there is provided a particular constructionfor closing the spaces between the adjoining units at the structural 45beam members 1. There is provided a top cover plate I1 overlapping theends of adjacent units and provided with one or more conical projectionsI8 provided with an opening I9 to facilitate welding the cover plate I1to the structural-beam member 1.

The lower member I3 is provided with projections I4 abutting and inalignment with the conical projections 3 of the top member 2. A lowerclosure and supporting member for the unit comprises plate members 20and 2|, identical in construction but which may be Varied in width. Theplate members 20 and 2I have one edge 22 bent downwardly to hook overthe projection I4, while the opposite end is welded to the structuralbeam member 1 as indicated at 22a. These plate members 2l] and 2I areprovided with notches 23 and 24 which permit entry of the remainingprojections therein. The closure plate members 20 and 2I can be insertedin a horizontal direction past the conical projections so as toy engagethe rst projection on the far side of the unit. The notches 23 permitthe conical projections I8 to be welded directly to the structural beammember 1.

In the modification shown in Figure 13, the lower closure member maycomprise a single plate 25 instead of the two plates shown in Figures 11and 12. If such a construction is used, there are provided openings 26permitting the conical projections I8 to be welded to the structuralbeam member 1.

With reference to the showing in Figures 11 and 12, certain conditionsmay develop in which the end of the units may be different distancesaway from the edge of the structural beam member 1. For example. the endof the unit on the left may be practically adjacent the edge of thestructural beam member '1, while the end of the unit on the rightmay besome distance away. In this case, the bottom closure member 20 would notbe as long as the member 2| and the conical projections I8 would,therefore, not be positioned within the notches 23. However, regardlessof whether the right or left hand edge of the adjacent units are closerto the edge of the structural beam member 1, they are supported theretoby the closure plate members 20 and 2I.

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of the invention,it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto,Vsince various modications may be made without departing from the scopeof the invention as dened by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a beam structure, a hollow steel buildingstructure comprising one or more units, said units including a top andbottom plate, means adapted to maintain said top and bottom plates inspaced relation to provide continuous hollow spaces extending over theentire floor area, said spacing means including a top plate providedwith depending projections in spaced relation and a bottom plate havinga ribbed area adapted to contact said depending projections on said topplate and means adapted to support said building structure on said beam.

2. In combination with a building structure including one or more beams,one or more hollow steel structural units, said units comprising anupper plate provided with depending projections and a bottom plateprovided with parallel ribs adapted to abut and align with saiddepending projections to form raceways, means adapted to connect theupper plates of adjoining units, and means adapted to support said unitson said beams. said supporting means including bottom plates positionedon said beams and provided with notches to permit said projections tocontact said ribs whereby said projections and ribs can be welded toprovide a continuous open horizontal space extending in all directionsabove the top of said beams.

3. In combination with a building structure including one or more beams,one or more hollow steel structural units including a top metal plateprovided with depending projections and a bottom plate provided withparallel ribs adapted to abut and align with said depending projectionson said top plate to form a plurality of raceways, a cover plate forconnecting said upper plates of adjoining units, said cover plateprovided with one or more projections, said bottom plates of adjoiningunits adapted to extend beneath the upper flange of said beam to a pointadjacent the web thereof and at least one closure plate for said bottomplates of adjoining units, said closure plate positioned on the uppersurface of said beam and provided with notches whereby said dependingprojections on said upper plates may contact the ribs in said lowerplates and the upper surface of said beam and be welded thereto so as tosupport said units and provide a continuou's open horizontal spaceextending in all directions.

GERALD G. GREULICH.

